LOS ANGELES — At least 10 people are believed to be dead — with the Los Angeles County sheriff saying he expects that number to rise — as a series of devastating fires grow uncontained across Southern California amid dry and windy conditions, leaving officials scrambling to contain the historic destruction.

The Department of Medical Examiner announced it has received notification of 10 fire-related deaths as of Thursday at 9 p.m.

It’s unclear where each person died. Earlier on Thursday, two confirmed deaths were linked to the Palisades Fire while at least three others were linked to the Eaton Fire in the Altadena area.

A new fire that erupted Thursday, the Kenneth Fire in West Hills, has grown to nearly 1,000 acres since igniting in the early afternoon.

Officials say a person has been detained for questioning in connection with this new blaze that has prompted evacuations.

Police responded just after 4:30 p.m. after a caller reported a possible arson suspect, according to Los Angeles police.

No arrest has been confirmed and an arson investigation is underway.

The fires have consumed 45 square miles – which equals the same size as San Francisco.

Firefighters are facing so many challenges, including a shortage of water.

On Thursday night, water-dropping “super scoopers” was grounded after it was struck and damaged by a drone.

The aircraft landed safely and no crewmembers were injured. It’s unclear when the aircraft will be able to fly again, and the incident remains under investigation.

The damage from the wildfires is being described as “unimaginable.”

Thousands of homes, including at least five churches, a synagogue, seven schools, and two libraries have been destroyed.

Bars, restaurants, banks, and grocery stores have also been reduced to rubble.

President Joe Biden has approved a federal major disaster declaration for Los Angeles County.

“Pacific Palisades right now could just be taken off the map. It’s — there is no Pacific Palisades,” said one resident.

As of Thursday night, the Palisades Fire was 6% contained.

Early estimates predict $57 billion in damages, which could possibly cause the state’s insurance crisis to swell.

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Between 2020 and 2022, insurance companies declined to renew 2.8 million homeowner policies in the state, including 531,000 in L.A. County.

Looting is also a problem. The National Guard has since been requested to protect property.

Many families can no longer recognize their neighborhoods.

A woman was seen carrying the only thing she could find: a piece of tile with turtles on it from her bathroom.

“It was the only thing I found other than a cracked mug,” she told ABC News. “So, I took it. Maybe to frame it as a memory.”

She said her friends have five family members who lost homes in the Palisades Fire.

The wildfire disaster is exposing a vulnerability in L.A.’s water system.

As crews battled the fast-moving flames, firefighters were hampered by low water pressure and fire hydrants running dry.

Officials say the city’s water system simply wasn’t designed to deliver such large volumes of water at once.

“Municipal water systems that service our homes and businesses continue to work effectively, however, they are not designed to fight wildfires,” said L.A. County public works director Mark Pestrella.

Maxar satellite before and after images capture the destruction from the blazes.

In Pacific Palisades, three large water tanks, each holding about a million gallons, ran out of water.

“We had a tremendous demand on our system and the Palisades,” said Janisse Quiñones, CEO of L.A. Department of Water and Power.

Experts tell ABC News that firefighters would have experienced the same issues, even with more tanks, due to the magnitude of the fires.

Take a look at the latest stories and videos on the devastating Southern California wildfires here.